He is often described as one of the worlds leading and oryginal breaks and progressive DJs. John Digweed himself was so amazed by his music that he broadcasted his mix on Kiss 100, offered him playing at Bedrock parties and gave him a job in an A&R capacity in Bedrock Breaks. He was 81st in the “Dj Magazine’s” Top 100 poll and that’s certainly not his peak period yet. Here’s a short chat with Jonathan Lisle that we had before his first trip to Poland.

Sound Revolt: You just came back from Asia. How was it?
Jonathan Lisle: Really good. Tokyo is an amazing place and the crowds out there really listen and know their music. They really know what they are doing e.g. the club had 38 speakers facing into the dancefloor so the sound was great! It was class playing with DJ19 who is a top bloke as well as a top DJ. Centro in Singapore was also excellent as usual.

Sound Revolt: Do you feel as John Digweed's protégé?
Jonathan Lisle: Only in so far as he has supported me more than anyone else and has been a great influence on me. Although we play very different styles of music, I have learned a lot from him over the years and have a hell of a lot of respect for him as an individual as well as a DJ. I owe him a lot.

Sound Revolt: What's the story behind you in the "Dj Magazine" Top 100 poll? You were 81st this year, which on one hand made me really happy and on another - curious. Happy, because I like your style very much but curious, because the music you play is not so banging as most of the people like. From my perspective, the majority of your sets that I have are more suitable for home listening than for festiwals like Dance Valley for example. Are you more energetic during the parties now, or maybe people just got into your ambitious and demanding music?
Jonathan Lisle: It all depends on the time slot really. I play more energetic music when I am playing a closing set. It's just that most of the CDs I put out in the past were opening sets. There's a CD from last summer which is based on some main sets I did in Argentina in July so that should give people an idea of what I'll play in a main slot.
Nevertheless, I was really touched by the DJ Mag result. It meant a lot to me personally that people are into the music I am into.

Sound Revolt: You said once that mixing CDs is horrible. Has anything changed?
Jonathan Lisle: Yeah a massive u turn for me on that one! I was a vinyl head for over ten years but I had to move with the times. I love mixing on Pioneer CDJ1000s as there are so many creative possibilities. It still does not feel as natural as a turntable tho..

Sound Revolt: Let's leave DJing. What's with your long-awaited "Doors In The Wall" EP and what can you tell me about the breaks project with Bill Hamel?
Jonathan Lisle: The first track from the EP is almost finished and the others are still work in progress. I'm writing and producing them all myself and it is taking a while to get them just right. Bill and I started a project in the summer and it's sounding really nice. I just need to get back over to the US to finish the track. Bill is great to work with and a top guy so I'm looking forward to getting back in the studio with him.

Sound Revolt: How's your label M Theory doing? It's great you picked up Naveen G as I'm really into his music.
Jonathan Lisle: I am really surprised at how well things are going for the label. It's great releasing the music you really love. Both Naveen G and the Chable & Fernandez track did really well and the third release is coming up next month so its all coming together quite nicely.

Sound Revolt: You work as an A&R in Bedrock Breaks. What's your view on new talents in the breaks scene? Anyone big coming up?
Jonathan Lisle: It's a real honour working with Bedrock and there is some great talent out there who are making the sound I am into. My favorite artists include Habersham, Noel Sanger, KVK, Jiva, Momu, Kaybee, Grayarea, Chable, Yunus, Subsky, Precision, Steiger, Jake Todd, Shiloh, Madoka, Fretwell, Orchid, Ads, Hellpass, Evan Marcus, Digital Witchcraft and there are many others at the
moment. Really exciting times.

Sound Revolt: Place you bets for this years Breakspoll awards please.
Jonathan Lisle: I expect Adam Freeland will win best DJ and deservedly so. He's excellent.

The End

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